PART I: WHAT IS twitter?
PART II: NEED MORE INFORMATION? CHECK THIS OUT!
For a more detailed explanation of Twitter, click the following link to read the EDUCAUSE "7 Things You Should Know About Twitter" article
PART III: twitter IN THE CLASSROOM
Twitter is a social media technology application that allows user to 'tweet' their thoughts and ideas in 140 characters or less. Using Twitter in the classroom can benefit your students through encouraging peer interaction, motivation, and fostering creativity. From tweeting about class discussions to portraying important historical figures to connecting with students worldwide and creating, Twitter can have many uses in the classroom.
PART IV: HOW TO GET STARTED
INTERNET ACCESSIn order to create a 'tweet,' you must have internet access. If your school does not have a 1:1 technology initiative for students, allow your students to bring their own devices so that they can access the internet.
twitter ACCOUNTYou must create a FREE Twitter account in order to use the application. If your students do not already have a log in for Twitter, they will also need to create an account to begin tweeting.
PURPOSEBecause Twitter has gained attention for being a social networking application, 21st century students are more likely to be familiar with this technology. Therefore, prior to implementing this tool, you must decide how to implement it into your classroom in ways that greatly benefit your students' learning. Will you use Twitter has a way for students to interact in a class discussion? Will you use Twitter to remind students of assignments? Will you have your students portray the thoughts of literary characters and historical figures? How often will you require students to use Twitter? Do you plan to use this throughout the school year or for a shorter time span? Answering questions such as these will help lead you to implementing Twitter in ways that will bring enjoyment to your students and have a positive impact on their learning.
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FAMILIARIZE YOURSELFSince many of your students will most likely have prior experience with Twitter, they will become disinterested if your knowledge of the application does not match their knowledge. This is why it is important that you familiarize yourself with this technology and understand the terminology associated with Twitter. Words such as 'tweet' and 'hashtag' need to become part of your vocabulary in order to implement Twitter in ways that are both meaningful and valuable to your students.
EXAMPLES OF twitter & OTHER RESOURCES |
PART V: MY THOUGHTS ON twitter
I am definitely a fan of using Twitter in the classroom. It is a great way to connect students in discussions, both with their peers and with others that they may be following or are following them. I think it is key to truly take the time to think about how you want to implement Twitter. Many times, I feel like we, as teachers, get excited about trying a "new" technology because it is new to us, but we must remember that Twitter is not new to our students. Most have been tweeting since before they could spell. Instead, what our students of the 21st century need are new ways of using Twitter.
I can honestly say, I never thought I'd create a Twitter account. I thought it was overrated and wondered why anyone would need to know what I ate for lunch or that I'm sitting around feeling bored. I was required to create a Twitter account for one of my graduate classes, and I was also required to make at least two posts a week. The first two weeks, it was like a constant nagging in my head to remind myself that I had to go "tweet." The more I did it, however, the more I started to enjoy it. The one thing that I HIGHLY suggest using when working with Twitter is the site Bitly. When I first used this site, I was an instant fan. The site takes a regular website URLs and shortens them dramatically, making it a great feature when using Twitter.
So if you're thinking about implementing Twitter, just remember, it might take some time, but don't give up. Just keep tweeting and you might just grow to like it!
I can honestly say, I never thought I'd create a Twitter account. I thought it was overrated and wondered why anyone would need to know what I ate for lunch or that I'm sitting around feeling bored. I was required to create a Twitter account for one of my graduate classes, and I was also required to make at least two posts a week. The first two weeks, it was like a constant nagging in my head to remind myself that I had to go "tweet." The more I did it, however, the more I started to enjoy it. The one thing that I HIGHLY suggest using when working with Twitter is the site Bitly. When I first used this site, I was an instant fan. The site takes a regular website URLs and shortens them dramatically, making it a great feature when using Twitter.
So if you're thinking about implementing Twitter, just remember, it might take some time, but don't give up. Just keep tweeting and you might just grow to like it!
Are you ready for the next tool?